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Comparative conservation genetics of protected endemic fishes in an arid-land riverscape

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Abstract

Conservation genetic studies are challenged by the fact that populations of many imperiled species have experienced declines and fragmentation to the degree they no longer exhibit natural, self-sustaining metapopulation processes; characteristics of great importance to managers charged with their protection. Genetic patterns of species from minimally impacted systems can inform management practices for populations in more modified and fragmented systems. We assessed spatial and temporal patterns of intraspecific genetic diversity and differentiation using microsatellites for three imperiled fishes of the unfragmented upper Gila River, New Mexico, USA. Estimates of contemporary effective size were low for these species, but we observed little genetic evidence of inbreeding. Overall genetic structure was low (all species FST < 0.025) suggesting moderate to high gene flow for all species, but each exhibited different patterns of spatial structuring. Gila nigra (a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act) appears most at risk of short-term loss of genetic variation and local extinction relative to Meda fulgida or Rhinichthys (Tiaroga) cobitis (both federally endangered) because G. nigra exhibited the lowest diversity, smallest effective size (Ne ~100) and temporally unstable population structure. Meda fulgida and R. cobitis exhibited temporally stable spatial structure related to riverscape features but connectivity among occupied habitats is threatened by a proposed diversion structure. Data from this comparatively pristine system can inform management of these species in fragmented portions of their ranges.

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Acknowledgments

Versions of this manuscript benefitted from comments by N. Franssen and 2 anonymous reviewers. Field and laboratory assistance was provided by T. Diver, N. Franssen, E. Gilbert, E. Martin, A. Monie, J. Monzingo, M. Osborne, J. Perkin, M. Troia, J. Trujillo, and J. Wick. We thank M. Cooper of The Nature Conservancy and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) Heart Bar Wildlife Refuge for providing lodging. This research was funded in part by NMDGF Share-with-Wildlife Program and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Program (Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative grant). Tissues were collected under NMDGF permit 3015 (TFT) and followed Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol 10-100492-MCC. We acknowledge logistical help from the Museum of Southwestern Biology Division of Fishes and technical support from the University of New Mexico Molecular Biology Facility, which is supported by NIH Grant P20GM103452.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, 167 Castetter Hall, MSC03 2020, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA

    Tyler J. Pilger, David L. Propst & Thomas F. Turner

  2. Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, MSC03 2020, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA

    Tyler J. Pilger, David L. Propst & Thomas F. Turner

  3. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA

    Keith B. Gido & James E. Whitney

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  1. Tyler J. Pilger
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Correspondence to Tyler J. Pilger.

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Pilger, T.J., Gido, K.B., Propst, D.L. et al. Comparative conservation genetics of protected endemic fishes in an arid-land riverscape. Conserv Genet 16, 875–888 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-015-0707-3

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